James Morrison today pledged to get ‘dirty’ to help add some extra steel to new-look Albion.

The £1.5m summer signing from Middlesbrough admits the Baggies will have to scrap their way to results at times if they are to make an impact on the Championship.

And the 21-year-old is relishing the prospect of rolling up his sleeves for the cause after realising it’s an area of his game he must improve on.

“The manager has talked to me about it and I realise that’s something I have to do,” said Morrison.

“I thought I did it quite well on Saturday, although I got a few kicks as well.

“But that’s all part and parcel of the game and I quite enjoyed it.

“Hopefully I can still improve on that side of the game and push on.”

Morrison is confident Albion will be able to dictate games at The Hawthorns with their football, as they showed by dominating Barnsley in Saturday’s 2-0 win.

But it’s on the road where the midfielder reckons they must really be on their mettle and win the physical battles before they can win the war.

Albion have so far yet to pick up a point on their travels, but after winning at Peterborough in the second round of the Carling Cup that’s something they will be eager to rectify at Bristol City and Scunthorpe later this month.

“We’re playing a good style of football but I think we need to improve on the ‘dirty’ side of the game,” said Morrison.

“On Saturday we managed it. Barnsley were a big, strong team but we matched them.

“Once we can get that into our game regularly I don’t think any team in the league can live with us when it comes to playing football.

“It’s easier to play our football at home.

“We found it really difficult at Sheffield United because they pressed us really hard for the whole 90 minutes and we couldn’t get a foothold in the game.

“We need to be able to do the dirty work first and then play, especially away from home because at The Hawthorns we play lovely football.”